Topic: Is the 30-30 the most powerful cartridge that is needed for hunting in Idaho?

[XDMHMMWV]

Is something more powerful than the 30-30 needed for hunting deer and elk in Idaho?
I have been reading that most of the game taken in Idaho are in the 100-150 yard range.
Should I be looking at a .308 rifle, or is that overkill for this area?

Also, are the Weaver brand of scopes any good, or should I stick to Leopold?

[Leanwolf]

Is something more powerful than the 30-30 needed for hunting deer and elk in Idaho?
I have been reading that most of the game taken in Idaho are in the 100-150 yard range.
Should I be looking at a .308 rifle, or is that overkill for this area?

Also, are the Weaver brand of scopes any good, or should I stick to Leopold?

Although I'm a big fan of the old .30-30 W. and have owned several, including my present Marlin 336, for an overall hunting rifle for various game in various topography here in Idaho, I  prefer my .308 W., or my .280 Remington.

I don't know about the new Weaver 'scopes, but my two old ones are very good.

L.W.

[dswickard]

Per the Idaho Fish and Game - the following apply to hunting large game (deer, antelope, elk, moose, etc)

Rifle and Shotgun
In any hunt, including any-weapon seasons, it is unlawful to
pursue or kill big game animals:
• By any means other than approved firearms,
muzzleloaders and archery methods.
• With any electronic device attached to, or incorporated
on, the firearm or scope; Except scopes containing
battery powered or tritium lighted reticles are allowed.
• With any firearm that, in combination with a scope, sling
and/or any attachments, weighs more than 16 pounds.
• With any fully automatic firearm.
• With any shotgun using shot smaller than #00 buck.
• With any rimfire rifle, rimfire handgun, or muzzleloading
handgun, except for mountain lions.

So, per Fish and Game you can utilize any rifle larger than a rimfire (must be centerfire cartridge) and it cannot be a Barrett 50 Cal (it weighs more than 16 pounds).  So anything in between is OK.  That means you could use an AR-15 in .223 if you wanted to, although I wouldn't recommend it for anything larger than deer (and that might be iffy).

Hope this helps.

[XDMHMMWV]

Thanks for the advice Leanwolf.

I was aware about what was legal, as far as caliber is concerned, in Idaho.
My concern was what is feasible though.
Thank you for the refresher though, it was good to go over again as it had been a while since my hunting course.

[Shade OGrey]

30-30 will take any animal in the north American continent. Has done so since it's inception. Larger "better" calibers have not, nor will, change that.

[broncovan]

Although I agree that the 30-30 is "capable" of killing anything in the Northern Continent, so is the 204, 223, etc.  Is it the best tool for the job?  Well, depends on the job.  30-30 is more than enough for North Idaho whitetail hunting, shots at German Shephard sized deer in the 50-100 yard range are fairly common.  Do I want to take a shot at a Southern Idaho trophy mulie buck 350 yards up a hill with a 30-30?  Probably not.

Personally I like the 30-06 for deer and elk.  I've killed a huge 6 point, a 5 point, and 3 cows as well as numerous deer with the venerable -06.  You'll find caliber choice opinions are like assholes.  In the end, knowing your limitations, a good bullet and a well placed shot are more important than the caliber.

Oh, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the 270, 7 mag,, 280, 308, 300 mags, etc for a deer AND elk caliber.

[MarkinIdaho]

If you are at pizza tonight we can certainly talk about this.  Nothing wrong with a 30-30... but I'm not sure about your stat of most game being taken at 100 yards... I'd want something with more punch, and the ability to take a longer shot without worrying about poor trajectory or lack of energy to knock the animal down with a one shot, humane kill.

[XDMHMMWV]

I'll be there!

[charlz]

I have always thought of the .30-30 as a close-quarters 'brush gun'; open sights, reasonably close range etc. I own a 30-30 but prefer to hunt with my .30-06. Trajectory wise the .30-30 drops about twice as fast as the .30-06. Why limit the shots you can potentially take if you don't have to? My brother, who has worked as a hunting guide for a number of years in Western Montana recently started carrying our Dad's old Winchester .30-30 in its saddle scabbard as a 'wolf gun' which to me is a perfect example of what a .30-30 is for.

[Shade OGrey]

  I guess no one stalks their prey anymore.
Well, honestly, I don't either these days. 
In my twenties and thirties I could sneak up on an elk and easily get within 30WCF range.
Now, in my fifties, not so much. So last time I went hunting I used my Savage 99 in 308.

The OP asked if the 30-30 was powerful enough for deer and elk within 100 to 150 yards.
Anything under 200 yards should present no problem, it's just getting to within 200 yards that is not so easy. (for me at least.)